Chelsea next manager: Antonio Conte to leave role as Italy boss after Euro 2016 for club football return

Antonio Conte is set to leave his post with Italy after Euro 2016Getty

Antonio Conte has moved one step closer to taking the reins at Chelsea after it was confirmed he will leave his job as Italy head coach following the upcoming European Championship finals in France. The 46-year-old succeeded Cesare Prandelli as Azzurri boss back in August 2014 in the aftermath of a hugely dispiriting World Cup campaign, which ended in elimination at the group stage courtesy of defeats to Costa Rica and Uruguay.

Chelsea have yet to announce anything official regarding their next appointment, although it only seems like a matter of time now after confirmation from the FIGC that they will be seeking a new coach later this summer. Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone, current Juventus chief Massimiliano Allegri and former Chile favourite Jorge Sampaoli were also believed to be strong candidates in the race to succeed Mourinho.

"Then I feel I must go back to [being] the coach at a club, having the opportunity to train every day.
Thanks to President Tavecchio who has accompanied me on a daily basis in this wonderful adventure."

Conte, who became synonymous with Juve during his successful playing career, had already cut his teeth in club management before taking the national team role, guiding the Turin club to three consecutive Serie A titles following spells with Arezzo, Bari, Atalanta and Siena. He had little trouble in steering his country to qualification for the Euros ahead of Norway as winners of Group H, with the draw for the tournament itself placing the 1968 winners, second seeds by virtue of their Fifa ranking, alongside Belgium, the Republic of Ireland and Sweden.